Ceiling-switch.



-PATBNTED DEG. 25, 1906.

F. L. PENN.

CEILING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1903.

'through of the retracting-spring.

NTEB 'STATES .PATENT- OFFICE.

yFL-illl L. FENN, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL;

ELECTRIC COMPANY,A A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CEILING-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec..25, 1996.

Application filed July 13,1903'. semi No. 165,318.

To a/ZZ -wlwm t may concern: -l

Beit known that I, FRANK L. FENN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county ot Schenectady, State of N ew York7 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ceiling-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relatesfto electric cut-outs, and more particularly to that class of cut-outs known as ceiling-switches, and has for its object to provide a lughly-eflicient switch of this class which shall be compact and of neat appearance.

The invention com rises an arranement of a rotary snap-switc 1 upon a suitabcle base with its axis parallel to the face thereof and provided with a ratchet and a pivoted actuating-lever,n the whole mechanism having its parts so constructed and arranged that an inclosino* shell of small dimensions ma be placca thereover without interfering with tlie operation of the parts.

The .invention will be readily understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings7 forming a part of tl* speciiicatiim, in whichl i ire 1 a right-end elevation with parts in section o a ceiling-switch embodying onel form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a back side elevation thereof with the shell removed. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan with parts in section ol the same,l and Fig. 4 is a left-hand elevation ot' the bearing-frame.

The base liof the switch, which may be of porcelain or other suitable insulatinfy material, is made in the form of a circular slab with a rabbet 2 in the lower surface near its peri h ery for the reception of the upper edge of c "mclosing shell 3, and passing transversciy therethrough are two co'untersunk holesfiy @or the screws, whereby the switch may bd screwed to the ceiling, and a larger cylindrical hole 5 for the passage there- To the lower surface of the base are secured two binding-posts 6 a bearing-frame S. The binding-posts are' each provided with a downwardly prjecting spring contact 7, adapted to engage wit a cooperating contact on the 'rotating member of the switch. The bearing-frame Sis made U-shaped and has journaled iu its side arms parallel to the tace ot' the base 1 a shaft 9 of the rotary memben. The left-hand end 10 of the haine .inwardly-bent S is made detachable by means ofscrews 11 55 from the main part of the fra-mein order to facilitate the assembling'of the parts, and in order to adapt it to serve as a sto -plate it is provided on opposite sides of the s iaft 9 wi th ortions 12, which are aper- 6o n turcd to formI s oulders 13 for engaginr the locking member 14 of the switch. The zlocking member 14 comprises two radial arms 15,\ each provided with an outwardly-projecting lug 16, which engages shoulders 13 of the 65 stoplate, zand a central hub portion providediwithcrown-cams 17 at its outer end for engaging a transverse pin 18, carried by the shaft 9. A helical spring 19 surrounds the shaft 9 and bears at one end against the 7o locking member 14 and is connected at the other end to a hole in the shaft, so that when the shaft is turned by the ratchet 25 in a clockwise direction the spring is tensioned and the locking member 14 drawn inwardly 75 by the action of the pin 18 on the crowncams 17 until the lugs 16 clear the shoulders 13 of the stop-plate, whereu on the locking member and parts associated therewith are carried through a quarter-revolution by the 8o recoil ofthe spring.

The switch-blade 2O has its opposite ends bent back at right angles to engage the stationary contacts 7 and is carried in a block of insulation 21, loosely surroundin ythe 85 shaft 9 and the locking member 14 an provided with recesses 22, in which the arms are free to move longitudinally and by which the block is caused to rotate with the locking member. T he ends of the block 21 are pro-l 9o vided with metal washers 23 and 24 to protect them from wear.

The ratchet-wheel 25 is mounted on the shaft 9, between the right-hand arm of the frame 8 and the Washer 23 on the revoluble 95 block 21 and connected thereto by a transverse pin 26. A bent actuating-lever 27 is pivoted to the right-hand arm of the frame 8 at 28 and is built u of two pieces of sheet metal rivetedl toget 1er and bent outwardly roo near their vinner ends to provide a transverse aperture 29 for the reception of a pawl 30 and a helical spring 31, which serves as a common retracting means for the lever and pawl. The pawl 30 is pivoted at 32 upon 105 the lever 27 and provided near its pivot with an attaching-ear 33, to which the spring 31 is attached. The upper end of the spring extends through the aperture 5 and engages a cross-bar 34 at the upper end oi the aperture. In order to prevent the operative end of the pawl being drawn up to the deadcenter in case' of disarrangernent or wear of parts, a projection 35 troni the edge of the arm of the frame S is bent into the path of the pawl, as indicated in Fig. l. The outer end Vof the lever 27' is provided with a hole 36, to which a pendent chain or oord may Abe attached.

v he shell 3 is 'made 'from sheet metal into the forrn oi" a cup and provided with a lining 38, of vsui-table insulation, and a slot 39 at one side for the (Passage of the actuatingdeyer 27 and is hel in place by a screw 40, which passes through the center ot its ends and engages a tapped hole in the bearingdrarne 8.

I do not Wish to be restricted to the pan ticular form or construction of parts shown and described herein, for it is apparent-'that they may. be changed and modified without departin from my invention. What `cla1m as new, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent of the United States, ism

l. vThe combination of an insulating base, stationary contacts secured thereto, a U-shaped bearing-frame mounted on sind base and provided with stop-shoulders, a shaft mounted in the side arrns oi said frame parallel to the face of the base, a rotary switch-blade and means coperating with said stop-shoulders for producing snap movement thereof mounted on said shalt, and ratchet means for actuating said shat.

2. The combination of an insulatinghase,

stationary contacts secured thereto, a bearine-iranie mounted on said base and provided with a plurality of stop-shoulders, a shaft supported in 'said trarne parallel to the face of said base, a switch-blade mounted. upon said shaft, locking means connected. to said blade rand adapted to en rage said stop-shoulders, a spring oonnecte to said shaft for producing a snap movement of said blade, and a ratchet mechanism for actuating' said shaft,

3. The combination o en insulatingl-base, a snap-switch provided wit1 a ratchet and mounted thereon with its axis parallel to the face of said base, a piyoted lever provided witha pawl adapted to engage said ratchet, and a single spring for retracting said lever and holding said pawl in contact with said ratchet.

4. The. combination of an insulating-base provided with a transverse aperture, a snai*- switch provided with a ratchet and mounted 

